At least one property suffered severe damage and two people were hospitalised after a wildfire broke out on the slopes of the mountain above Kalk Bay Harbour yesterday.
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Firefighters from Table Mountain National Park, NCC Wildfire Services, Volunteer Wildfire Services, Working on Fire, and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services battled a line on Trappieskop, particularly on the urban edge. Four Huey helicopters and a spotter plane remained on scene.
‘We immediately dispatched fire crews, but when we realised the intensity and the fires rapid expansion to houses close by, we sent another 10 fire engines,’ said Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
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‘While TBNP and their partners tackled the burning mountain slop, our firefighters took to protecting properties on the urban fringe.’
‘Sadly, before our arrival, one property had suffered severe damage and two occupants suffered injuries and were taken to hospital.’
Smith said that while helicopters took to water bombing the burning terrain, the City of Cape Town’s firefighters kept the fire away from property along Kalk Bay.
‘With the roads along Boyes Drive filled with our crews, we deployed an additional 10 firefighting appliances to the harbour area, waiting on standby and ready in case we needed additional resources.’
‘By 8pm aerial resources had stood down and crews continued to dampen down on hotspots in the area.’
Crews remained on standby throughout the night.
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Boyes Drive at Old Boys Drive, Main and Clairvaux Roads remained closed overnight and motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternate routes.
Meanwhile, Parkscape would have appealed to communities to express their gratitude to crews by assisting with constantly needed supplies.
Donations can be dropped off at the NCC Environmental Services offices in Westlake at:
26 Bell Close, Westlake Business Park, Westlake, during office hours.
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Picture: NCC Wildfires / Charl Steenkamp